Hey all!
I wanted to let you all know that I have made it safe and sound to the great kingdom of Swaziland after a very long and exhausting travel “day” including spending my Thanksgiving on 2 flights, one layover, and a very long bus ride that ended with us getting stuck at the bottom of the mountain after 36 hours of travel only 2 miles from our destination forcing us to spend the rest of our night on that bus until morning when a tractor could come pull us out of the mud, which was only accomplished without the weight of our bodies onboard, so we ended up walking alongside the couple of miles up the mountain. But after over 40 hours of travel and probably less than 5 hours of sleep, we are here and I can say that it was worth every second and every amount of frustration.
This month my entire squad is serving together again for the 3rd time. We are all working with an orphanage at the top of a mountain here in Swaziland with the most amazing view. There is a wide variety of ministry to do here. I have already been able to partake in cleaning up classrooms in the nearby school, clearing debris around the orphanage, digging a trench around the church to prevent flooding, draining and cleaning the duck pond, leading the daily chapel service for the kids, and loving on the all the children.
The around 100 kids here are also on their summer vacation so the squad is putting on different activities and classes each day for all the kids to keep them busy having fun and learning. We are doing a buddy system so each racer is paired with a child to get to know and pour into over the month. I have the joy of being paired with a smart, sweet but sassy 9 year old girl who I’m excited to get to know more.
We also have a bunch more projects lined up to work on, a great Christmas celebration planned with the kids, and a pamper night for the aunties (the women who live at the orphanage and take care of the orphans full time). With only a week in, I cannot tell you how excited I am for all that we’ve already gotten involved in and everything to come!
Thank you for your continued support, and please be praying for our ministry this month as we pour ourselves into this place and spend time with these beautiful children, many of whom have experienced things none of us can even imagine. Pray that we may bring a sense of joy to this place and love the children and staff well. Also pray for the squad as we are approaching the halfway mark of the Race, that we would continue on strong. And as we prepare to spend Christmas away from our friends and family at home.
